This is why you’re seeing people wearing safety pins

While protests and riots continue across the country in the wake of the presidential election, there's a small yet powerful symbol popping up all over the world showing solidarity and support for groups who say they are fearful of what is to come.

As stories of Americans experiencing hate speech, racism and violent protests spread on social media, pictures of people donning a safety pin have also started appearing on Twitter and Instagram.

The idea was inspired by a British movement following Brexit and is meant to send a message that anyone wearing a pin is standing up against sexism, racism, and xenophobia, essentially declaring themselves allies and friends to groups who feel marginalized.

After Brexit, the safety pin hashtag started trending across the pond in an effort to show refugees and immigrants they have support.

There's now an effort in the U.S. to adopt the symbol to show compassion in the aftermath of a divisive election.